title: Local control of single atom magnetocrystalline anisotropy.
abstract: Individual Fe atoms on a Cu(2)N/Cu(100) surface exhibit strong magnetic anisotropy due to the crystal field. We show that we can controllably enhance or reduce this anisotropy by adjusting the relative position of a second nearby Fe atom, with atomic precision, in a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Local inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy, combined with a qualitative first-principles model, reveal that the change in uniaxial anisotropy is driven by local strain due to the presence of the second Fe atom.
authors.affiliation: Department of Quantum Nanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: J J T
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wagenaar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerrits
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Otte